Typographical composing machine



Dec. 8, 1931. o. J. STRAUGHAN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING' MACHINE Filed May 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 o. J. STRAUGHAN 1,835,537

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ill)! Dec. 8, 1931.

Dec. 8, 1931.

O. J. STRAUGHAN TYPOGRAPHI CAL COMPOS ING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVFZTAOR W 4, g

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED}STATES}. rArENr OFFI E o'rIs ,newsman BRO KL ,newyoex, AssIeNon TO ERGENTHALER LINO- frrYrn COMPANY, A oonPonATIon 01" NEW Yon rroeaarmcm. oomrosme' Macrame a iicationi file-dzna 'e; 1930; seiierno; 459,900.

- This L invention T relates to itypographicalv composing; machines, such as linotype niachines of the general organ zationrepresent ed in Letters Pate-ntto O. Mergenthaler, No.

.1 136,532,. whereincirculating matrices and spacers arere'leased from separate magazines by theinanipulation-oli a keyboard-1 and then composed inline', the composed line-transferred-to the'face of a mold, the mold filled '11-: withmoltenmetalto form a slug-or linotype against the matriceswhich produce'the type characters thereon, and-the -matrices. and spacers thereafter elevated and returned by suitable mechanisms to the; magazines from W which they'started;

' The release of the matrices is'efiected by: a series of finger keys (usually ninetyin number) bearingL-the different) characters of. the corresponding "matrices,-Whereas: the release of the spacers (which are all alike) isefi'ected by a single blankfinger 'k ey.- In the cominerci' al machines, the "keyboard is ordinarily provided with a locking device adapted when the machine is idle to prevent accidentaldepressionof the finger keys and the consequent release of the matrices whenthe'machine is subsequently started. S'uch a locking de- 'viceis shown in 'thc Kennedy Patent No. 1,3975971and consists "of-a slotted plate slidably mounted upon the regular inclined front plate of the keyboard] and=whiolr is adjustable at will to and fromitsactive orlocking position" beneath-the"forward "ends 'of the finger keys." This locking -plate,*-however,

" functions only-to lock thegmatrix -releasing keys; the spacer releasing key being unaffected thereby *a11'd"hence capable of rnanipula 'tion'='at all times. Asa result, it has been found inpractice that-occasionally some tool or other object, which has been ca'relessl y placed upon or-ncar the keyboa-rd, will hold the spacer key depressed and cause the power mechanism controlled thereby to release manyyif notall, of the'spacers from-the storage magazil'ie and clog the assembling. mecha'n'isnr-- V The present mvention ls 'lntended toovercome these and other .ob1ect1ons and-contemm plates, specifically, the provision of locking means for the spacer-releasing key wlnch are operated automatically by the locking plate when the latterv is adjusted to lock or unlock the matrix keys. In the preferred embodimerit. il-lustrated,: such means include a forea-ndatt looking ro,"which is adapted to be moved, endwise by the adjustable locking platerintoand out of engagement with a pin therein andiinits mode of application, which will still be comprised within its spirit. It

should-theretore be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations'sarespecified the claims Referrin to: the drawings:

= Fig. 1* isa front elevation of a portion of a linotype machine with the present improve mentsapplied thereto [Fig 2 is side elevation of the keyboard,

partly broken away, showing the improved locking devic for the spacer key in its inactive position; l

I Fig.3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the locking-device for'the spacer key in its active position; and;

' Fig. 4 is a plan view of the keyboard as shown in-Fig. 3 with some of the parts broken away and omitted.

The matrices Xand spacers Y (see Fig. 1)" are stored in the respective magazines X Y and are' released therefrom for composition in line'by the regular power operated devices,

tion to a pair of underlying constantly driven rubber rolls A The arrangement is such that as the slides are raised, the cams are allowed to drop into peripheral contact with plates U, the inclined front plate C, and

the rear plate C. The front andrearplates (7 and G are formed with elongated slots 0, a, respectively, wherein the opposlte ends t. of the finger keys are guided (see Fig. 4) and the leii'gtli'of these slots is' such as to permit the required actuating movement of the finger v ,1 I 'lhe'excepted actuating slide A, (the one at the extreme right of the series) is c0nnected to an arm D, keyed orotherwise secured to a horizontal rock shaft D which extends completely across the keyboard andis journa led in the side plates C Ofithereof: The arm D is located at one end of the shaft D adjacent the inner wall of thei'ight side plate C, and at-its other end, :the shaft is provided with a corresponding arm or-finger piece D located adjacent the outer wall of the'left side plateG i In the arrangement shown, therefore, the arm-'D, rock shaft D and linger piece, D together constitute the spacer releasing key, which however may also include (as is usually the'case) a second finger piece attachedto the sl1aftD"attl1e right of the keyboard (3, or even a third fingerpiece at the top of the keyboard in thenature of a universal bar extending entirelyacross the} lmyhoard (as is also frequently thecase).

At-this point, it may be stated-that while the weight of the'respective slides A is suflicient to insure the return movement of the matrix keys B after depression, the weight of theactuating arm D 'of the spacer key is considerably ,greater than the combined weight of the arm D and the associated slide A, and for 'thisreason it is customary to employ a counter-balancingspring to insure the return of the parts after the spacer key has been depressed, the said spring D, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, being anchored to the outer wall of the l-:eyboar d plate C? and connected to a pin D, which projects laterally from the arm D through an enlarged aperture (1 formed in said plate.

\Vhen the spacer key is actuated, theslide A is raised by the arm D, andthe reed A.

directly above the slide is operated in the usual way'by the underlying cam yoke A. This particular reed-A,,as may be observed (Fig. 1).. is considerably shorter than the 'other rcedsand is connected at its upper end by a horizontallever D to. the escapement of the magazine Y, which controls the release of the spacers Y,

As before stated, the keyboard equipped with a locking plate E which (as keys B extend. In the forward position of the plate E, the slots 6 thereof are adapted to coincide with the slots 0 of the fixed plate C, so that the finger keys will be free for actuation as usual; but when the locking plate E is in its rearward or active position, the lower end walls of its slots engage the bottom edges ofthe finger keys and thus lock the latter against depression or actuation. Th'e'adju'stment of the locking plate E e'tl ected'by means of a rotary cam plate F, pivoted by a pin f to the fixed front plate C near the front edge thereof and arranged to engage the adjacent edge of the locking plate As will be apparent from the drawings. when turned anti-clockwise about the pivot pin f, the cam F pushes the locking plate E rearwardly to its active position (as shown by the full linesin Fig. 4) and when turned clockwise, it allows the locking plate to slide forwardly by gravity to its inactive position (as indicated by thedotted lines in said figure). :To facilitate its turning, the cam plate F is provided with a depending grip or handle F which also-serves as a stop to limit its movement in both directions.

. According to the present invention, means are provided for automatically locking and releasing the spacer releasing key when the locking plate E is shifted to and from its active or locking position, respectively. In the embodiment illustrated, such locking mcans(as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4) consists of afore-and-aft locking rod G arrangedalongside the right-hand plate C of the keyboard and attached thereto for endwise' movement by a pin and slot connection G I The front end of the rod G is pivotally connected by an angular bracket piece G to the locking plate E, while its rear end is located in engaging relation to the pin D of the arm D. The arrangement of the parts issuch that when the locking plate E occupies its normal-or inactive position (shown invFig. 2) with its slots 6 in registry with those of the fixed front plate of the keyboard to. permit the actuation of the matrix finger keys B, the rearend of the rod G will stand clear of the pin D so as also to permit the actuation of the spacer finger key; whereas, when the plate E is shifted rearwardly to its active position (shown in Fig. 3) to carry the lower end walls of its slots into engagement with the matrix keys B to prevent their actuation, the rod G will also be moved rearwardly into engagement with the pin D so claims.

as also to prevent the actuation of the spacer key. The spacer releasing mechanism as well as the mat in releasing mechanism may thus be locked and unlocked at will by the operation of the cam F.

lVhile the invention has been herein shownand described in connection with a wellknown keyboard lock, it nevertheless, when considered in its broader aspects, contem-- plates locking means for preventing the operation of the spacer releasing devices, when combined with any locking means arranged to be engaged directly with the linger keys in preventing the operation of the mat "ix releasing devices. Moreover, the construction and arrangement of the spacer key locking means as illustrated herein might itself be varied or modified; for example, a lug projecting from the rear ec ge of the locking plate E and arranged to cooperate with a pin projecting radially from the rock shaft D or directly with the actuating arm D could be substituted for the locking rod G and would function equally as well. These and other alterations or changes will readily sugthemselves to those skilled in the art and and still be. comprised within the scope of the invent-ion as set forth Having thus described my invention,wh at I claim is: V

1. A keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines including, in combination, matrix releasing mechanism, spacer releasing mechanism, separate and independently mounted locking devices for the two said mechanisms, and operative connections between said locking devices whereby the locking of one of the releasing mechanisms automatically effects the locking of the other.

2. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, the combination with a supporting frame, a series of finger keys movably mounted therein for effecting the release of matrices, and a separate finger key also mounted in the said frame for effecting the release of spacers, of a locking device adjustable to active and inactive position into and out of direct engagement with the matrix releasing finger keys to prevent or permit their actuation, and a separate adjustable locking device for preventing or permitting the actuation of the spacer releasing key.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the adjustable locking device therein recited for the matrix releasing keys is operatively connected to the locking device for the spacer releasing key so that the adjustment of one of said devices automatically effects the corresponding adjustment of the other. 7

4. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, the combination with a supporting frame, a series of finger in the following" keys movably mounted therein for effecting the release of matrices, and a separate finger key also mounted in the supporting frame for eifectingthe release of the spacers, of a locking device adjustable into and out of direct Tengagement with the spacer releasing key to prevent or permit its actuation.

' 5. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, the combination with asupporting frame, a series of finger keysjmovably mounted therein for eifecting the'releaseof matrices, and a separate linger keyalso mounted in the said frame for effecting the release of spacers, of adjustable means for simultaneously locking or unlocking the matrix releasing keys and the spacer releasing key by direct engagement there- Wl-thi' r 6. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, the co-mbinationwith a. series of power actuated devices, acorresponding series of vertical controlling slides associated therewith-and a series of pivoted matrix releasing fingerkeys and a pivoted spacer;releasingkey connected to the vertical slides, of a locking device adjustable into and onto-f direct'engagement with the matrix relea sin g keys to prevent or permit the actuation of the connected power-device controlling-slides, and means controlled by said locking device to prevent or permit'the actuation of the spacer releasing key and its connected'power-device controlling-slide.

7. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, the combination with a series of power actuated devices, a corresponding series of actuating slides associated therewith, and a series of matrix releasing finger keys and a spacer releasing finger key connected to the various actuating slides, of alocking device adjustable into and out of direct engagement with the matrix finger keys to prevent or permit the actuation of the connected slides, a locking device adjustable to prevent or permit the actuation. i

of the spacer key and its connected slide, and a common operating device for effecting the adjustments of both of said locking devices simultaneously.

8. In a. keyboard mechanism for typo-,

graphical composing machines, the combination with a supporting frame, a series of finger keys movably mounted therein for effecting the release of matrices, anda separate finger key also mounted in the said frame for effecting the release of spacers, of a locking device adjustable into or out of direct engagement with the matrix releasing keys to prevent or permit their actuation, a foreandaft locking rod mounted at one side of the supporting frame and adjustable longitudinally into and out of engagement with the spacer releasing key, and connections between the two said locking devices whereby both are adjusted to locking or unlocking position simultaneously. I

9. A combination as specified in claim 8, characterized by the fact that the locking rod therein recited is slidably connected to the keyboard frame and has its .rearend arranged to engage a pin projecting laterally from a part of the spacer releasing finger key. 7

10. A keyboard for typographical composing machines including, in combination, a supporting frame, a series of matrix releasing finger keys and a spacer releasing finger key pivotally mounted therein, a locking plate slidably mounted on the supporting frame and formed with elongated slots through which the matrix releasing finger keys extend, said plate being adjustable to shift the end walls of its slots into or out of engagement with the associated finger keys so as to prevent or permit their actuation, and means connected to the adjustable locking plate and operated thereby to prevent or permit the actuation of the spacer releasing key.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed;

OTIS J. STRAUGHAN. 

